Best radiator controller?

Posted on
Wed Aug 16, 2017 3:50 pm
kelmk offline
Posts: 85
Joined: May 17, 2017

Best radiator controller?

I see a lot of people using the Danfoss LC-13 but it doesn't seem to have temperature feedback to Indigo. Is this still the best valve available? I have six radiators and a Nest.
I should also note that I am in New Zealand but I don't have any zwave devices yet so whichever one I go with will lock me into that frequency.
Thanks

Posted on
Wed Aug 16, 2017 4:08 pm
durosity offline
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Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne, Ye Ol' England.

Re: Best radiator controller?

I use Stella-z trvs and they seem fairly reliable. There’s a variant called the comet which has local control functions and seems to be cheaper so might be worth looking at them.

Computer says no.

Posted on
Wed Aug 16, 2017 5:11 pm
kelmk offline
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Joined: May 17, 2017

Re: Best radiator controller?

Cool thanks. I'll look into those ones as well. I can't seem to find any TRVs for any zwave frequencies other than UK though. Do they exist for US or AUS?

Posted on
Wed Aug 16, 2017 7:52 pm
jay (support) offline
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Re: Best radiator controller?

I haven’t seen any for the US - but radiators are fairly rare here which probably explains it.

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Posted on
Wed Aug 16, 2017 7:58 pm
kelmk offline
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Joined: May 17, 2017

Re: Best radiator controller?

I found these ones which are beautiful and actually built by Eurotronic as well https://www.elgato.com/en/eve/eve-thermo
Sadly they are homekit only and only work over bluetooth.
I decided to order a Eurotronic comet from the UK with the UK zwave usb dongle. Not the end of the world having multiple zwave dongles. I'll see how that works with the stella-z indigo plugin before ordering any more.
Cheers

Posted on
Wed Aug 16, 2017 11:24 pm
howartp offline
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Location: West Yorkshire, UK

Best radiator controller?

Have you checked licensing regs on using U.K. frequency equipment in NZ?

It might be reserved for other uses in which case you'll be fined a wad of cash or locked up if caught.

Oh, and Indigo only works with one Zwave controller at once...

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Posted on
Wed Aug 16, 2017 11:43 pm
Wazz offline
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Joined: Mar 14, 2014

Re: Best radiator controller?

I have 8 Danfoss atRV's, the feed back doesn't bother me as it's the general room temp I'm concerned about the local temp by the rad is always higher. The batteries last about 18 months and they exercise the valves if it isn't used much to stop them seizing up.


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Posted on
Wed Aug 16, 2017 11:44 pm
kelmk offline
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Joined: May 17, 2017

Re: Best radiator controller?

Oh, and Indigo only works with one Zwave controller at once...


Hmm, that's disappointing

Posted on
Thu Aug 17, 2017 12:09 am
howartp offline
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Joined: Jan 09, 2014
Location: West Yorkshire, UK

Re: Best radiator controller?

kelmk wrote:
Oh, and Indigo only works with one Zwave controller at once...


Hmm, that's disappointing

Let me rephrase that.

Generally, Zwave itself only works with one controller - it's not Indigo's fault.

The controller is exactly that; the controller - all Zwave devices are added to it and some piece of software (Indigo or otherwise) instructs it to send commands, and receives status responses.

Two controllers can't generally be used in one Zwave network cos they wouldn't know about each other's devices. As you add more Zwave devices to a Zwave network, the mesh gets stronger - running two Zwave networks would be counter productive in this sense.

(*there are ways of having a secondary Zwave stick in a network but Indigo doesn't support it and they'd have to be same frequency anyway)



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Posted on
Thu Aug 17, 2017 1:10 am
autolog offline
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Joined: Sep 10, 2013
Location: West Sussex, UK [GMT aka UTC]

Re: Best radiator controller?

I have converted all my Stella-Zs to these: Z-Wave Popp Heating Thermostat

They are similar to the Danfoss LC-13 but are meant to have improved firmware. The bonus is that they report back temperature and can be adjusted at the radiator as they have control buttons (unlike the Stella-Z).

As you might expect, my Stella-Z plugin supports them. :)

Posted on
Thu Aug 17, 2017 1:37 am
kelmk offline
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Joined: May 17, 2017

Re: Best radiator controller?

autolog wrote:
I have converted all my Stella-Zs to these: Z-Wave Popp Heating Thermostat

As you might expect, my Stella-Z plugin supports them. :)


That’s the most important part! Thanks for the recommendation. I have changed my order to a popp.


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Posted on
Thu Aug 17, 2017 3:28 am
mclass offline
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Joined: May 13, 2015
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Re: Best radiator controller?

Hi! I'm in Oz, and am continually frustrated by lack of devices on the AU/NZ frequency. (It's illegal to use the US or EU frequencies here).
I have found that some vendors are prepared to meet special orders, but these take some time to deliver.
In many cases I have sought wifi &/or Bluetooth alternative devices.
I have radiator heating, but have decided to settle on a single central Ecobee thermostat with remote thermostats in important areas, using the Ecobee Indigo plugin.
Will be interested to hear how you go - but mind the ZWave frequency issue!!!


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Posted on
Thu Aug 17, 2017 7:17 am
Mayhem offline
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Joined: Mar 17, 2014

Re: Best radiator controller?

autolog wrote:
I have converted all my Stella-Zs to these: Z-Wave Popp Heating Thermostat

They are similar to the Danfoss LC-13 but are meant to have improved firmware. The bonus is that they report back temperature and can be adjusted at the radiator as they have control buttons (unlike the Stella-Z).

As you might expect, my Stella-Z plugin supports them. :)


OK only £2 difference.... Thanks for the pointer.

Posted on
Thu Aug 17, 2017 10:42 am
autolog offline
Posts: 3988
Joined: Sep 10, 2013
Location: West Sussex, UK [GMT aka UTC]

Re: Best radiator controller?

Please see this post for the Stella-Z (beta) which supports the Comet and Popp TRV - status comments in the linked post still apply. :wink:

Posted on
Thu Aug 17, 2017 12:17 pm
Sevilsivle offline
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Joined: Jan 11, 2013

Re: Best radiator controller?

Eurotronic will (hopefully) release a new version of their TRV soon.
The "Spirit Z-Wave PLUS" includes FLiRS functionality.
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